IndexEffective LeadershipWhat to AvoidDevelopmentConclusionOne of the most important and integral keys to an effective and efficient organization is finding and investing in good leaders and the leadership function in general. Leadership can often make or break a company. The function of leadership is often a complex topic and is constantly evolving as companies grow and change. There is no simple way to define or explain leadership as a function of an individual or an organization. Directing is often mistaken for the same thing as managing. These two functions are not the same thing. Organizations need both leaders and managers. Although an individual can fulfill both functions, this is not always the case. Some managers are not good leaders and vice versa. This article will discuss the function of leadership, the qualities, characteristics and duties associated with this function. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay A function can be described as a purpose, a job, or a role. Leadership can be described as the act of being a focal point or a front runner who has followers. Driving means being ahead of others. Leadership as a function within an organization means much more than simply having followers. Leadership is not always positive within an organization, but positive leadership is a key tool in a well-functioning organization. Good leaders are continually evolving, continually growing, and continually learning. Leadership as a function is also constantly evolving. It is said that some leaders are born to lead, while other leaders who have developed over time and are equally successful in the leadership function are molded into those who become the best leaders in their organization. , the community or the environment will never know. This raises several important questions. How does an individual become a great leader? Furthermore, what defines an effective leader and how does an individual reach this point? To define the effectiveness of the leadership function, an individual must first try to explain the meaning of the words separately. According to Richard Daft, “defining leadership has been a complex and elusive problem largely because the nature of leadership itself is complex” (2008). Leading means that an individual works to set an example, teach, or inspire other individuals to follow. To be effective or have a lasting, positive effect on others, it is necessary to achieve objectives, tasks, changes or results for the betterment of individuals, the organization or any type of institution of which the leader is an integral part. they are leaders in every area of ​​daily life and individuals are influenced by them on a daily basis in every area of ​​life. Just because someone is a leader in one area, skill, or organization does not make them a leader in every other aspect of their life. For example, a parent or grandparent may be a leader in their family, but may choose not to or may not be able to be a leader in their work. Another example is that an individual may be a leader in a certain nonprofit, political, or religious organization, but not in his or her day-to-day work. An individual does not necessarily have to be a leader in every aspect to be effective. They just need to be effective in leadership of the particular group of people they choose to lead. Effective Leadership “Effective leadership requires not only doing the right things, but also understanding what not to do.” (Wait, 2015). It's no easy task to decipher which oneswhat the right things to do and what the wrong things are in the leadership function. Depending on the group being led, in most cases there is a steep learning curve that the leader must follow to become effective. A leader must learn everything about their target group, as well as the mission and values ​​of the group, environment or organization of which they are a part. They must also have an understanding of what the group represents to understand the tasks they must undertake and the goals they must strive to achieve. Another key component is learning the strengths and weaknesses of not only the target follower group, but also the individuals who make up the group. If an individual is the coach of a softball team, he or she is, in theory, the leader of that team. They must identify the players' abilities, where each player should play and can be best utilized both on the field and in the batting order, and what will be needed to push and motivate the team towards greatness. They also need to evaluate team dynamics and how well players are able to work as a team. A tremendous amount of knowledge will be gained through trial and error, as well as ensuring that mistakes are not made twice. They in turn will learn what not to do and what is most effective, otherwise they will fail in their leadership position. Not all groups are always small enough to get to know each person individually. Some of the most effective leaders in history and today have led groups of one hundred thousand people or more. In this case, the same skills will not be equally useful. Instead, skills will need to be used on a much larger scale. The same goes for the leader of a large company or organization. Leaders must always lead by example. If a company's CEO leads people in a positive way, thereby instilling values ​​and strengthening the organization, the same should and can be expected of leaders in roles subordinate to the CEO. If or when a leader takes their role seriously and is able and willing to perform it to the best of their ability, establishing guidelines and accepting responsibility, they will be better able to instill this role in other leaders within. also the organization. When good leadership or effective leadership and associated qualities are expected at all levels, the qualities, strengths and expectations will in turn trickle down to each worker and the organization will therefore be effective overall. What to avoid There are five critical mistakes to avoid in the leadership function according to Waits. These mean “failing to schedule time for learning conversations, failing to consistently assert, making misdiagnoses, wearing the wrong hat, and failing to take responsibility.” (2015). Everything in life is an ever-evolving learning experience. Work, volunteer or non-profit leadership, athletics, or any other team or organizational experience should be the same and approached with the same mindset. There is no perfect person, so there is no perfect leader either. It is essential to encourage learning and approach, as well as embrace learning opportunities in every aspect of life. Mistakes are not the end point, but rather the beginning of the path to growth and the choice to avoid the same mistakes again. Individuals need affirmation and it is imperative that all leaders affirm and encourage their followers. This will ensure that everyone works and grows together. If a medical professional were also a parent, it would be highly inappropriate for them to treat their clients the same way they treat their children. Would beIt is also extremely inappropriate for a judge to treat his own family the same way he would treat people who come to his court. Saying that an individual must wear the appropriate hat and not miscalculate or analyze is essentially the same thing as saying that one must ensure that one's attitude, behavior and decisions are appropriate for a given environment and situation. As much as the above points may seem like common sense, these ideas and principles sometimes do not come easily to people's minds. They are unable to evaluate the situation and the audience before acting or reacting. Accountability or taking responsibility for one's actions, as stated earlier, is the key to any individual being highly effective in anything they do. Development“We believe that leaders need to develop their ability to tune into an organizational system and have a clear idea of ​​what the organization needs in terms of leadership, rather than doing what they did last time, or do what the boss tells them to do.” (Cameron, Green, 2008.) Leadership is not ideal for everyone, nor is it necessarily a comfortable role to take on. It is essentially and critically important for every individual who takes on a leadership role to primarily determine what he or she needs for his or her followers to be effective in what they are trying to accomplish. Sometimes this may involve pointing out tasks that are done incorrectly or corners that are cut. It can also involve revealing secrets, breaking friendships, or identifying ugly truths. For an organization to improve from its current state, discrepancies and shortcomings must be highlighted. To move forward you need to achieve responsibility. “We expect leaders to innovate, develop/lead/teach, inspire, challenge and lead; we require managers to administer, maintain, execute and control.” (Ramthun, 2015). Many times the titles of manager and leader are used interchangeably, but these two titles do not contain the same meaning. Managing and leading are very different things. As stated earlier, there are times when a leader manages or a manager leads. However, they don't always fall into that category. A leader inspires other individuals to follow him, while a manager tasks others to follow his direction. A manager may assign work or direct people to complete assigned tasks, but does not necessarily allow staff or subordinates to strive for the same mission and goals. They don't necessarily motivate staff to push themselves and try to be bigger than they were the day before. A leader has more power than a manager. A leader can make change. A manager can ask for change, but won't necessarily get it. There is also more respect for a leader. An effective leader doesn't necessarily demand respect, but receives it. A manager may demand respect, but will not necessarily receive it. Respect is earned and not given freely just because a person has authority. If a manager effectively balances their management and leadership responsibilities, they will be much more effective. An individual in a management position who is also respected as a leader inspires their followers to not only complete necessary tasks, but to do so to the best of their ability. The best work and the best final products are embraced by a team that respects their manager as well as their leader. A leader also respects his followers and stands by them when they need it. If a person feels like their leader cares about them and will essentially protect them and do what's best for them, they will most likely do so..